Pulpit for boat



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J. R. GAFFEY PULPIT FOR'BOAT Sept. 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.5, 1956 United State-s Patent PULPIT FOR BOAT John Raymond Gatfey,Scituate, Mass., assignor to Merriman Bros., Inc., Boston, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts Application January 5, 1956, Serial No.557,535

1 Claim. (Cl. 114-.5)

This invention is a pulpit for a boat. It is particularly concerned withthat type of pulpit which is used on power boats, sailboats,auxiliaries, motor sailers and the like.

As is well understood by those familiar with boats of this general type,pulpits have been found very desirable to prevent persons from fallingoverboard at the bow.

It has been the practice heretofore for pulpits to be custom made sothat they will fit properly on the decks of the boats with which theyare to be used. The need for custom construction of pulpits is obviouswhen one considers the different types and shapes of decks that arefound in different types of boats. For example, certain types of powerboats may have a rel-atively. wide, flat, blunt nosed deck which wouldrequire a pulpit with bracing members spaced far apart in order to besecured to the deck close to the rail. On the other hand, a pulpitsuitable for use on a narrow racing sailboat would have to beconstructed so that the bracing members would be secured to the deckmuch closer together than in the case of the motor boat. In otherinstances decks may have a substantial crown which requires that thesockets in the deck plates be set at an angle thereto if the braces areto be properly received.

Since the decks vary so widely, it has been found virtually impossibleto produce a stock pulpit capable of being properly fitted on more thana few boats and hence, because of the necessity of building pulpits toorder, the cost has been so high that the average boat owner has beenreluctant to provide his boat with a pulpit even though recognizing itsdesirability as an important safety feature.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide apulpit of such construction that it will be capable of generalapplication to all boats of the same type. That is to say, one model ofpulpit can be made for power boats capable of being properly affixed todecks of varying dimensions and cross sectional configurations. A secondmodel may be provided for sailboats of the cutter type in which there isno bowsprit and a third type may be provided for sailboats withbowsprits. In each case, however, those elements of construction whichprovide for a wide range of adjustability are present, the diflerencesresiding in the curvature and dimensions of the forward and sidesections and in some minor variation in the length of the generallyvertical braces.

Because of the inclusion of the special elements of construction thatrender the pulpit adaptable to installation on boats of varyingdimensions, it has been possible to eliminate in most cases thenecessity of custom building of pulpits. Instead, it is now possiblethrough the use of a few stock sizes to provide a relatively low costpulpit for any of the herein referred to types of boats.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel features ofconstruction which make it possible, if desired, to remove an installedpulpit from one boat and, through suitable relative readjustment'of thevarious parts, install it on another boat of different dimensions, allwithout the necessity of securing any replacement parts or using anyspecial tools or equipment.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent asthe description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings inwhich Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the forward deck of a power boaton which the pulpit has been installed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking from the right of Fig. 1 with theparts in exploded arrangement, showing in detail all of the elements ofconstruction.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig.1, showing the manner in which the same pulpit may be installed on awide or narrow boat.

Fig. 4 shows in enlarged detail the construction of the deck plates andbraces, which permits a wide range of positions of the braces with thedeck plates always capable of being bolted or screwed flush against thedeck.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the lower portion of Fig. 5 taken on theline 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, similar to Fig. 5, taken on the line 66 ofFig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation similar to Figs. 5 and 6 taken on the line7-7 of Fig. 4.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the pulpit comprises a forward section2, two Ts 4 and 6, two side sections 8 and 10, four deck plates 12, 14,16 and 18, and two braces 20 and 22.

The braces 20 and 22 connect the Ts 4 and 6 with the deck plates 12 and14 and the side sections 8 and 10 connect the Ts with the deck plates 16and 18.

From an inspection of Fig. 2 it will be seen that the forward section,side sections and braces are tubular elements formed of pipe or the likewhich have been bent to a particular configuration and are of aninternal diameter to receive the horizontal and vertical swivel arms 24,26 and 32 of T 4 and 28, 30 and 34 of T 6.

The exterior surfaces of the ends of the forward section, side sectionsand braces are of substantially the same circumferences as the bodyportions of the Ts 4 and 6 with which the said ends engage when the armsare positioned therewithin. In this way the surfaces merge and there ispresented a smooth outer contour running continuously from element toelement to help prevent injury to the sailor damage to the sails orother equipment.

The deck plates 12, 14, 16 and 18 are so constructed that the axis ofthe sockets thereof 36, 38, 40 and 42 are at an angle to the bases. Inthe preferred form this angle which may be the same for each deck plate,will be in the order of 20 degrees to the perpendicular to the undersidedeck engaging surface, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 6, but it may bevaried more or less if desired. The lower ends of the braces 20 and 22are bent or otherwise suitably formed with a section extending at anangle with the bent portions being indicated at 44 and 46 in Fig. 2. Theangle of bend of the bottom ends of the braces in the preferredconstruction is less than the angle of the sockets of the deck platesand in the order of 10 degrees to the axes of the upper section of thebrace. However, the construction will be fully as satisfactory if thebend at the end of each brace is the same as the angles of the sockets.

The purpose of this construction, as will appear more clearlyhereinafter, is to enable the under surface of the deck plate to bebrought flush against the deck regardless of the angle, within limits,that may be assumed by the main portion of the braces 20 and 22.

Additionally, there is shown in the exploded view of Fig. 2 a pluralityof roll pins all numbered 48 and adapted to hold all of the parts inpermanent secured relation after the pulpit has been properly installedwith the deck plates in secured position. This is accomplished bydrilling a hole of proper size through each of the deck plate socketsand the inserted tubing. The roll pins are then driven therein therebyto prevent subsequent removal of the side sections and braces from thesockets. Similarly, holes are drilled through the upper ends of the sidesections and braces and ends of the forward section and the arms of theTs positioned therein. The roll pins are then driven in for permanentfinal assembly. A roll pin so inserted is shown at the left position ofFig.4 and in Fig. 5.

In assembling the pulpit the following procedure may be followed. Thearms 24 and 28 of Ts 4 and 6 are inserted in the ends of the forwardsection 2. The arms 26 and 30 of the Ts are then inserted in the upperends of the side sections 8 and 10. The vertical arms 32 and 34- of theTs are inserted in the upper ends of braces 20 and 22. The lower ends ofside sections 8 and 10 and the lower ends of braces and 22 are insertedin the sockets of deck plates 16, 18, 12 and 14 and the unit is thenplaced tentatively on deck at the bow of the boat.

The side sections 8 and 10 are then rotated inwardly or outwardly on theT arms 26 and to bring the deck plates 16 and 18 to the desiredpositions, generally close to the rail 50. It is believed that it willbe apparent that in this position the underside of each of the deckplates 16 and 18 may be brought into flat engagement with the deck andthe lower ends of side sections 8 and 10 will extend therefrom at theangle of the socket. Without permanently securing the deck plates 16 and18 at this point, attention is then turned to the braces 20 and 22 andtheir cooperating deck plates 12 and 14. The braces 20 and 22 aremounted on the swivel arms and may be swung or rotated around the axesof the ends of the braces and around axes perpendicular to the axes ofthe ends of the braces and in a plane which is perpendicular to the axisof the arms 24 and 26 and the arms 28 and 30 of the Ts 4 and 6.Accordingly the braces 20 and 22 are swung inwardly or outwardly untilthe deck plates 12 and 14 reach the desired positions, usually close tothe rail 50. Then the braces 20 and 22 are rotated about the axis of thearms 32 and 34 While at the same time the deck plates 12 and 14 arerotated about the lower ends 44 and 46 of the braces. In a few secondstime a relative position of brace and deck plate will be found in whichthe undersides of the deck plates 12 and 14 are in flat engagement withthe deck and the braces extend upwardly as desired.

Thus, in the manner just described it is possible to install the pulpiton the forward deck of the boat, positioning the four deck plates atselected locations and with all of the deck plates having theirundersides flat on the deck regardless of the curvature of the deck.With the pulpit now in the desired position, bolts or screws may then beplaced through the several holes 52 of the four deck plates thuspermanently to secure the deck plates in the selected locations and flatagainst the deck. Thereafter suitably sized holes are drilled througheach of the deck plate sockets and the side sections and braces thereinand through the ends of the members that are in engagement with the armsof the Ts so that the roll pins 48 may be inserted therein to secure allthe parts together. The installation is then complete.

Referring now to the braces 20 and 22. I desire to emphasize that it isthe combination of the socket angularly disposed with respect to theunderside of the deck plate and the short bend at the lower end of thebrace that makes it possible for the brace to be swung to the desiredupwardly extending position and the deck plate to be placed flat againstthe deck regardless of the slope of the deck. This is accomplished byrelative rotation of the brace 20 on arm 32 and rotation of socket 36 onthe bent end 44. The nature of this relationship is shown in more detailin Fig. 4 in which the brace 20 swinging in 'a plane normal to the axisof the arms 24 and 26 of the T 4 can be shifted from an extreme positionat the right, as at R, to an extreme position at the left L or to anyposition therebetween with the bottom of the deck plate 16 always flushagainst the deck 54. In the position R the socket 36 is tilted to theleft its maximum amount and likewise the bent lower end 44 is in aposition to give the maximum angularity or slope to brace 20. The natureof the relationship can be seen by consideration of Fig. 7. Any angle ofthe brace to the deck may be accommodated according to the followingformula. If A equals the acute angle of the socket to the bottom of thedeck plate and B equals the acute angle of the short bend of the braceto the center line of the brace, then the maximum angle of the brace tothe deck plate will be A-i-B and the minimum angle will be AB. WhereA-f-B equals the brace may assume a vertical position.

Referring again to Fig. 4, as the brace 20 is swung to the left to avertical position (in this case A+B equals 90), as indicated at V, theunderside of the deck plate 16 can be positioned fiat against deck 54.

Again, if the brace 20, due to deck conditions, must be moved farther tothe left, then it may be moved from the vertical position just referredto, to the position L or any position therebetween and again, bysuitable rotation of brace 20 with respect to arm 32 and by rotation ofsocket 36 with respect to the bent end 44, the underside of the socketmay again be brought into flat bearing position against the deck 54,provided the brace angle to the deck is between A-l-B and AB.

While the deck 54 in Fig. 4 has been shown as horizontal it will beunderstood that this merely represents one deck condition. The deckcould be crowned or sloping and in any case, again, by suitable rotationof the socket 36 with respect to the bent end 44, the deck plate can bebrought to a position in which it will bear directly over its entireunder surface against the deck.

The curvature of the side sections 8 and 10 results in the lower ends ofthese sections being at an angle with respect to the center lines of thearms 26 and 30 of the Ts so that the necessary flexibility in locatingthe lower ends of the side sections is also obtained. However, as willbe appreciated, the principal problem is found in suitably locating thelower ends of braces 20 and 22 and it is by the means that have beendescribed that my pulpit becomes universally adaptable for installationon boats of varying dimensions.

By changing the dimensions and curvature of the forward section 2, thegeneral location of the lower ends of the side sections 8 and 10 may befairly well determined. The lateral maneuverability of the deck plates12 and 14 and braces 20 and 22 makes it possible to set the pulpit in aposition where it will be as far forward as desired and the deck platesmay be closed to the rail thereby to provide a maximum interior spacefor the sailor.

The illustration in Fig. 3 is included to show how a stock pulpit may beused on a boat having a narrow forward deck in which the rail isindicated at R or having a wide deck in which the rail is indicated at Rprime. In either case, by suitable rotation of the braces 20 and 22 withrespect to the cooperating sockets 36 and 38 the undersides of the deckplates 12 and 14 may be brought to a position flush against the deck D.

It is my invention to cover all changes and modifications of the exampleof the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure which donot constitute d'epartures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

A pulpit for use on a boat having a forward deck, said pulpit beingformed of pipe or the like and comprising a curved forward section, twoside sections, two upwardly extending braces, a T coupling meansconnecting each end of said forward sections to one end of said sidesections and to one end of one of said braces, each of said T couplingmeans comprising three swivel arms two of 5 which are axially aligned,the third of said arms mounting its respective said brace rotatablyaround the axis of one end of said brace, and said brace and third armbeing rotatable around the axis of said two aligned arms, each of saidbraces having a section at its lower end extending at an angle in theorder of 10 to 20 to the axis of the upper section of said brace, meansfor securing said braces to said boat deck comprising deck plates havingsockets rotatably receiving said lower ends of said braces, each of saidsockets having an axis at an angle in the order of 10 to 20 to theperpendicular to the underside deck engaging surface of each respectivedeck plate, one of said axially aligned T coupling means swivel armsmounting one end of one of said side sections rotatably around the axisof said latter swivel arm, and means for securing" the other ends ofsaid side sections to said boat deck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHERREFERENCES Yachting, page 104, July 1950; Yachting, page 3, December1950.

